Lifting sling system having single strap with size-varying, spaced, in-line eye loops

A sling capable of lifting a heavy load, comprising:

• a strap of flexible, fabric-like material having a first strap end, a second strap end, a first strap surface, and a second strap surface;
• said first strap surface having in connection therewith a plurality of eye-loops of flexible, fabric-like material spaced along the length thereof, said first strap end being selectively attachable to one of said plurality of eye-loops forming a closed lifting loop;
• a number of said plurality of eye-loops being each spaced a different predetermined distance from said strap end in a manner such that said sling may be placed snugly about a variety of different sized loads when said first strap end is attached to said one of said plurality of eye-loops;
• and
• a second plurality of said of eye-loops having an effective distance within about one (.about.1") inch of the following values:
• nineteen and seven-eighths, twenty-six, thirty-two and three-fourths, thirty-nine, forty-two and seven-eighths, forty-nine and one-fourth, fifty-five and one-half, sixty-one and seven-eighths, sixty-eight, seventy-four and three-eighths, ninety-three and one-fourth, one-hundred-twelve, and one-hundred-thirty and seven-eighths;
• said effective distance of each eye-loop of said second plurality being different from said effective distance of every other eye-loop of said second plurality.

A sling for lifting a heavy load, comprising:

• a strap of flexible, fabric-like material having a first strap end terminating in a first end-loop, a first strap surface, and a second strap surface;
• said first strap surface having in connection therewith a plurality of eye-loops of flexible, fabric-like material spaced along the length thereof, said first end-loop being attachable to one of said eye-loops with a shackle;
• a number of said eye-loops being each spaced a predetermined distance from said first end-loop in a manner such that the sling may be placed snugly about a variety of different sized heavy loads;
• a shackle including a shackle bar, having a first and second shackle-ends, formed with a central opening accessible through a throat opening;
• and a shackle pin, each of said first and second shackle-ends having an aperture there through of a size sufficient to receive therein a portion of said shackle pin, said throat opening being of a size sufficient to allow a section of said strap to pass there through into said central opening;
• a number of said eye-loops being spaced a predetermined distance from said first strap end in a manner such that the sling may be placed snugly about a variety of heavy loads;
• and
• a second plurality of said plurality of eye-loops having an effective distance within about one (.about.1") inch of the following values:
• nineteen and seven-eights, twenty-six, thirty-two and three-fourths, thirty-nine, forty-two and seven-eighths, forty-nine and one-fourth, fifty-five and one-half, sixty-one and seven-eighths, sixty-eight, seventy-four and three-eighths, ninety-three and one-fourth, one-hundred-twelve, and one-hundred-thirty and seven-eighths inches;
• said effective distance of each eye-loop of said second plurality being different from said effective distance of every other eye-loop of said second plurality.

A method of lifting a heavy load, comprising the following steps:

• a) providing a sling comprising a strap of flexible, fabric-like material having a first strap end, a second strap end, a first step surface, and a second strap surface;
• said first strap surface having in connection therewith a plurality of eye-loops of flexible , fabric-like material spaced along the length thereof;
• and an attachment means for selectively attaching said first strap end to one of said eye-loops, said attachment means having a first portion disposed through one of said eye-loops when said first strap end is attached to one of said eye-loops;
• b) wrapping said first strap end about said load in a manner such that said second strap surface is in contact with the heavy load;
• c) attaching said first strap end to a selected one of said eye-loops with said attachment means;
• d) exerting a force on said strap sufficient to lift the heavy load;
• said strap further including:
• a number of said eye-loops each spaced a predetermined distance from said first strap end in a manner such that the sling may be placed snugly about a variety of different sized heavy loads;
• and there is further included in the step "c" the step of:
• selecting one of said eye-loops which produces a loop having a comparable inner diameter in comparison to the outer periphery of the heavy load being worked on.

A method of lifting a heavy load, comprising the following steps:

• a) providing a sling comprising a strap of flexible, fabric-like material having a first strap end, a second strap end, a first strap surface, and a second strap surface;
• said first strap surface having in connection therewith a plurality of eye-loops of flexible, fabric-like material spaced along the length thereof;
• and an attachment means for selectively attaching said first strap end to one of said eye-loops, said attachment means having a first portion disposed through one of said eye-loops when said first strap end is attached to one of said eye-loops;
• b) wrapping said first strap end about the heavy load in a manner such that said second strap surface is in contact with the heavy load;
• c) attaching said first strap end to one of said eye-loops with said attachment means;
• and
• d) exerting a force on said strap sufficient to lift the heavy load;
• there being further included
• a multiple number of supported chain-falls located in proximity to one another and at least two of said straps both located to opposite sides of a common chain connection to said slings;
• and there is included the further step of:
• e) drifting the heavy load from one chain-fall to an adjacent chain-fall using chain hooks carried by said chain-falls to be inserted into selected ones of said eye-loops of each strap.

A method of lifting two work pieces of significantly different diameters at different times using the same sling and a separate mechanical lift device, comprising the following steps:

• a) providing a sling comprising a strap of substantially in-elastic, elongated, flexible, fabric-like material having a first strap end, a second strap end, a first, flat, outer, strap surface, and a second, flat, inner, strap surface;
• said first strap surface having in connection therewith a plurality of in-line eye-loops of flexible material spaced from one another along the length of said single, elongated strap;
• and an attachment means for selectively attaching said first strap end to a selected one of said eye-loops, said attachment means having a first portion disposed through one of said eye-loops when said first strap end is attached to one of said eye-loops;
• b) wrapping said first strap end about said first work piece in a manner such that said second, inner strap surface is in face-to-face contact with said first work piece;
• c) attaching said first strap end to a selected one of said eye-loops with said attachment means to accommodate and at least generally match the diameter of said first work piece;
• d) using a first mechanical device to exert a lifting force on said strap sufficient to lift said first work piece;
• e) releasing said first work piece from the strap and separating the two;
• f) wrapping said first strap end about said second work piece in a manner such that said second, inner strap surface is in face-to-face contact with said second work piece;
• g) attaching said first strap end to another selected one of said eye-loops with said attachment means to accommodate the different diameter of the second work piece, using a different eye-loop from the eye-loop used in step "c";
• and
• h) using a mechanical device to exert a lifting force on said strap sufficient to lift said second work piece;
• thereby using the same sling to wrap around the two different work pieces at different times and separately lift said different diameter work pieces.